diff --git a/photoprism/rootfs/etc/cont-init.d/99-run.sh b/photoprism/rootfs/etc/cont-init.d/99-run.sh
index 58fd551f1..23a16de28 100644
--- a/photoprism/rootfs/etc/cont-init.d/99-run.sh
+++ b/photoprism/rootfs/etc/cont-init.d/99-run.sh
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ mariadb_addon)
     bashio::log.warning "Webtrees is using the Maria DB addon"
     bashio::log.warning "Please ensure this is included in your backups"
     bashio::log.warning "Uninstalling the MariaDB addon will remove any data"
+
+    mysql -uuser -p -e"CREATE DATABASE IF NOT EXISTS $PHOTOPRISM_DATABASE_NAME; CHARACTER SET = 'utf8mb4'; COLLATE = 'utf8mb4_unicode_ci'" || true
     ;;
 esac